Barrel contours for LR competition

[Mulligan]

I currently shoot F-Open and have plans to start shooting LR benchrest soon.

In F-class you see a bunch of 1.25” straight barrels, a few other contours show up but the vast majority appear straight 1.25”.

In LR benchrest, it appears no one is shooting a 1.25” straight contour barrel.

The sports are different and strings of fire are different. I get that. In the end, the goal is the same, “keep ‘em in the X-ring”.

As I prepare for the 2019 season, can those of you who understand both games explain why the majority of shooters in these two sports use completely different barrels for shooting at a grand?

Thanks
CW

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Weight limits are the main constraint

 

[Mulligan]

Weight limits are the main constraint

Dusty, isn’t 17 pounds the break point for LR BR? If so, couldn’t they use as heavy a barrel as they want in heavy class?
CW

 

[JFrank]

you really have to study the IBS and NBRSA rules to be clear.
There are restrictions on stock dimensions as well depending on Class.
J

 

[Mulligan]

230 Heavy Gun (HG). There is no restrictions for the rifle being used as to weight or sights. Caliber
231 is restricted to .409 or less. Muzzle brakes are allowed.
232 Light Gun (LG). Guns shooting in the Light Gun class must weigh 17 pounds or less, inclusive
233 of bolt, scope, diopters, muzzle brake, and any attached equipment.

https://internationalbenchrest.com/documents/folder/rules/rulebook_for_long_range_matches

The above information is from the IBS website.
From what I have read, many shooter are shooting their light guns in the heavy gun class, maybe I am wrong???

Why are the little bitty group shooters using HV or LV barrels at 1000 and f-class shooters using 1.25 straight?

I have seen some “Speedy contour” barrels marketed for f-class, what is the consensus on these.
Just trying to learn
Thanks
CW

 

[expiper]

OP,,,,,as stated earlier it is all about making the 17 lb wt limit !!!...and most shooters use the light gun in the heavy class,,,just like short range BR shooters use a sporter in the light/heavy varmint classes,,,the guns are so expensive to build and if you have your rifle "tuned" and shooting good it is stupid to lay it aside and try something else,,,go with a 28" HV contour and you will do fine,,,Roger

 

[dkhunt14]

I currently shoot F-Open and have plans to start shooting LR benchrest soon.

In F-class you see a bunch of 1.25” straight barrels, a few other contours show up but the vast majority appear straight 1.25”.

In LR benchrest, it appears no one is shooting a 1.25” straight contour barrel.

The sports are different and strings of fire are different. I get that. In the end, the goal is the same, “keep ‘em in the X-ring”.

As I prepare for the 2019 season, can those of you who understand both games explain why the majority of shooters in these two sports use completely different barrels for shooting at a grand?

Thanks
CW

Most guys are building light guns. It is cheaper and they can shoot in both classes. Heavy guns need wider front tops and and a mechanical rear rest. In true heavy guns, most use a 1.450 barrel glued or clamped into a block. The barrel cost is about 550 verses 350. Now add the block, about 200.00 and and a rear rest about 300.00. Now add in the cost of a front rest top and wider bag about 200. Then the stocks are bigger and cost way more. The cost is substantially more.

On a light gun with a good scope, barrel and stock, it is hard to make weight with anything over a Heavy Varmint. Matt

 

[shoot4fun]

HG has no weight limit except for just how heavy a piece you can get to the bench and set up. I've seen some that were as heavy as 80 pounds. Those virtually require special front and rear rests as well and those rests not only are expensive but additional weight and bulk for your trip to the match.Why would anyone do that? Well, 1,000 yard BR HG class is a ten-shot target. Add that to the act that there are this who feel that they get a marked advantage from shooting calibers like the 300WSM in HG class and you can easily see why all the weight can be advantageous. All three of my guns are able to make LG with HV contour barrels of 28-30". I will generally screw a 1.25" on one of them for HG and that will usually take it above the LG weight limit. There are some who can shoot LG class with 1.25" barrels though and that all depends on stock and action weight, not to mention scope/ring choices. If my LG would make weight with a 1.25" barrel I would not use anything else. My stocks are all walnut/maple laminates and have 4" wide forearms.
Isn't the weight limit 22 pounds (including any attachment) for F-Class?
Also, most LR BR shooters use brakes or tuners but those are not allowed in F-Class either are they?

 

[Mulligan]

OP,,,,,as stated earlier it is all about making the 17 lb wt limit !!!...and most shooters use the light gun in the heavy class,,,just like short range BR shooters use a sporter in the light/heavy varmint classes,,,the guns are so expensive to build and if you have your rifle "tuned" and shooting good it is stupid to lay it aside and try something else,,,go with a 28" HV contour and you will do fine,,,Roger

Makes sense.
However, would those same shooters use a heavier contour barrel if they could?
I think if a heavier barrel would make a difference, those same shooters could and would do a quick barrel swap and shoot heavy class with the better barrel. That is not what is happening (I think) so, are F-class shooters doing themselves any favor by going to the straight 1.25” barrels?

I have not been at this very long and prior to buying a new 1.25” barrel I’m trying to figure out if I would be better off going to a HV contour or Speedy contour and maybe getting a little more weight moved to my rear bag and in the end better balance on the bags.
CW

 

[Mulligan]

HG has no weight limit except for just how heavy a piece you can get to the bench and set up. I've seen some that were as heavy as 80 pounds. Those virtually require special front and rear rests as well and those rests not only are expensive but additional weight and bulk for your trip to the match.Why would anyone do that? Well, 1,000 yard BR HG class is a ten-shot target. Add that to the act that there are this who feel that they get a marked advantage from shooting calibers like the 300WSM in HG class and you can easily see why all the weight can be advantageous. All three of my guns are able to make LG with HV contour barrels of 28-30". I will generally screw a 1.25" on one of them for HG and that will usually take it above the LG weight limit. There are some who can shoot LG class with 1.25" barrels though and that all depends on stock and action weight, not to mention scope/ring choices. If my LG would make weight with a 1.25" barrel I would not use anything else. My stocks are all walnut/maple laminates and have 4" wide forearms.
Isn't the weight limit 22 pounds (including any attachment) for F-Class?
Also, most LR BR shooters use brakes or tuners but those are not allowed in F-Class either are they?

Yes, F-open shooters are allowed 22 pounds.
tuners are allowed, no breaks
Thanks
Clay

 

[Mulligan]

HG has no weight limit except for just how heavy a piece you can get to the bench and set up. I've seen some that were as heavy as 80 pounds. Those virtually require special front and rear rests as well and those rests not only are expensive but additional weight and bulk for your trip to the match.Why would anyone do that? Well, 1,000 yard BR HG class is a ten-shot target. Add that to the act that there are this who feel that they get a marked advantage from shooting calibers like the 300WSM in HG class and you can easily see why all the weight can be advantageous. All three of my guns are able to make LG with HV contour barrels of 28-30". I will generally screw a 1.25" on one of them for HG and that will usually take it above the LG weight limit. There are some who can shoot LG class with 1.25" barrels though and that all depends on stock and action weight, not to mention scope/ring choices. If my LG would make weight with a 1.25" barrel I would not use anything else. My stocks are all walnut/maple laminates and have 4" wide forearms.
Isn't the weight limit 22 pounds (including any attachment) for F-Class?
Also, most LR BR shooters use brakes or tuners but those are not allowed in F-Class either are they?

This actually really helps, thank you
CW

 

[XTR]

The LG limit is pretty close to the F-TR limit with out the bipod. In TR we are limited to 8.25K (18.18 Lb) but even the lightest bipods are about a pound so the rifle needs to come in right at 17lbs.

Point being most F-TR rifles can make weight with a HV. Mine are custom HVs that are .970 at the crown (30"). The numbers should translate pretty straight across, and it makes sense why LG BR guns would be running HV barrels. Just beware of scopes, some a re much lighter than others.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Dusty, isn’t 17 pounds the break point for LR BR? If so, couldn’t they use as heavy a barrel as they want in heavy class?
CW

Yes they can but who wants to swap barrels during a match? Then you got 2 barrels to tune and hope they shoot the same after the swap. Looks like everything else was covered up above

 

[4xforfun]

Yes they can but who wants to swap barrels during a match? Then you got 2 barrels to tune and hope they shoot the same after the swap. Looks like everything else was covered up above

Me. Quite successfully I might add.

Tod

 

[Terry]

For me it's all about balance. The HV or LV barrel leaves more weight for the rear of the stock in Light Gun. In my Heavy gun a 30" 1.350 barrel balances the gun well with the 5 pounds of lead in the rear of the stock.